ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Experimental evidence has suggested that drugs that enhance cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor activity may induce anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, whilst the opposite has been reported with antagonists. Thus, the objective of the present review is to discuss the potential psychiatric side-effects of CB1 receptor antagonists, such as rimonabant, which has been recently marketed in several countries for the treatment of smoking cessation, obesity and associated metabolic disorders. METHOD: Literature searches were performed in PubMed and SciELO databases up to February 2009. The terms searched were "obesity", "rimonabant", "cannabinoids", "unwanted effects", "diabetes", "smoking cessation" and "side-effects". RESULTS: Clinical trials have revealed that rimonabant may promote weight loss in obese patients, although it may also induce symptoms of anxiety and depression. DISCUSSION: Patients taking CB1 receptor antagonists should be carefully investigated for psychiatric side-effects. These drugs should not be prescribed for those already suffering from mental disorders. Nevertheless, the development of new compounds targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of several conditions would be necessary and opportune.
OBJETIVO: Evidência experimental sugere que drogas que aumentam a atividade dos receptores canabinóides tipo 1 (CB1) podem induzir efeitos ansiolíticos ou antidepressivos, enquanto que o oposto tem sido relatado com antagonistas. Assim, o objetivo da presente revisão é discutir os potenciais efeitos-colaterais psiquiátricos de antagonistas do receptor CB1, como o rimonabanto, que foi recentemente liberado para comercialização em diversos países para o tratamento do tabagismo, obesidade e de desordens metabólicas associadas. MÉTODO: Foi realizada uma busca na literatura no PubMed e Scielo até fevereiro de 2009, com os termos "obesity", "rimonabant", "cannabinoids", "unwanted effects", "diabetes" , "smoking cessation" e "side effects". RESULTADOS: Ensaios clínicos revelaram que o rimonabanto pode produzir perda de peso em pacientes obesos, embora também possa induzir sintomas de ansiedade e depressão. DISCUSSÃO: Pacientes tomando antagonistas do receptor CB1 devem ser cuidadosamente examinados quanto aos efeitos-colaterais psiquiátricos. Estas drogas não devem ser prescritas a indivíduos que já sofrem de transtornos mentais. Entretanto, o desenvolvimento de novos compostos que atuem no sistema endocanabinóide para o tratamento das mais diversas condições parece necessário e oportuno.
Subject(s)
Humans , Anxiety Disorders/chemically induced , Appetite Depressants/adverse effects , Depressive Disorder/chemically induced , Obesity/drug therapy , Piperidines/adverse effects , Pyrazoles/adverse effects , Smoking/drug therapy , Endocannabinoids/physiology , Metabolic Diseases/drug therapy , Placebo Effect , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/antagonists & inhibitors , Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/physiology , Smoking Cessation/methodsABSTRACT
Prenatal alprazolam (APZ) treatment in 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg/day doses during 13-20 days of gestation induced significant increase in open-field ambulation, rearings, self-grooming and faecal pellets in rat offspring. Prenatal APZ treated rats displayed significantly increased anxiogenic behaviour on elevated plus maze (spent less time on open arms, more time on enclosed arms and made less number of entries on open arms) and increased anxiogenecity on elevated zero maz e(APZ treated rats spent less time on open arms and made less number of head dips and stretched attend postures in comparison to control rat offspring). The results indicate persistent behavioural alterations in the rat offspring after prenatal exposure to APZ.
Subject(s)
Alprazolam/toxicity , Animals , Anti-Anxiety Agents/toxicity , Anxiety Disorders/chemically induced , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Exploratory Behavior , Female , Light , Maternal-Fetal Exchange , Maze Learning , Pregnancy , Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects , RatsABSTRACT
En este trabajo se analiza la importancia que puede tener el género, la especie, la edad y algunos factores endócrinos de los orgnaismos en el efecto de ciertos fármacos con propiedades ansiolíticas como son los agonistas del receptor 5-HT1A buspirona, indorrenato, 8-OH-DPAT e ipsapirona. Aunque hay en la actualidad muchos modelos animales para evaluar la ansiedad experimental, en este caso se utilizó el paradigma de la conducta defensiva de enterramiento con el propósito de hacer comparables los resultados derivados de las diferentes condiciones experimentales antes mencionadas. Así, se muestra que en las ratas, los ratones y los hamsters, los agonistas 5-HT1A producen un efecto claramente ansiolítico: sin embargo, el mecanismo de acción subyacente a dicho efecto parece ser diferente dependiendo de la especie estudiada. En el caso de los ratones y los hamsters, la neurotransmisión serotoninérgica participa directamente en la mediación del efecto ansiolítico producido por los compuestos antes mencionados, mientras que en las ratas este efecto parece estar regulado prodominantemente por el sistema noradenérgico. También se hace notar que el efecto de estos fármacos varía en función de la edad de los sujetos experimentales, de manera que en los animales jóvenes, los ansiolíticos serotonínergicos no inducen efecto alguno, mientras que en animales adultos (9-13 semanas) se observa una clara acción ansiolítica. No obstante, este efecto se va perdiendo conforme avanza la edad del animal (21 semanas). En relación al efecto de los fármacos administrados en hembras y machos, los ansiolíticos no mostraron diferencias. Sin embargo, se manifestó una marcada sensibilidad de las ratas machos a los efectos tranquilizantes de la benzodiacepina "diacepam" en comparación con las hembras. La diferencia más notable se encontró entre los machos y las hembras que se encontraban en la etapa de metaestro del ciclo estral. Al respecto, es interesante mencionar que durante el ciclo endócrino de la rata se encontraron diferentes niveles basales de ansiedad, siendo más bajos durante el proestro y más altos durante el metaestro y diestro. En este caso, el efecto de los fármacos antes mencionados no fue influido por las diferentes etapas del ciclo estral. Sin embargo, la capacidad de respuesta de los animales (es decir la reactividad) disminuyó en el grupo de mahcos después de la administración de indorrenato e ipsapirona, al igual que con el diacepam. En el caso de las hembras...
Subject(s)
Mice , Rats , Animals , Anxiety Disorders/chemically induced , Anti-Anxiety Agents/pharmacology , Benzodiazepines/pharmacology , Estrus/drug effects , Buspirone/pharmacokinetics , Serotonin Receptor Agonists/chemistry , Diazepam/pharmacokinetics , Disease Models, Animal , Endocrine GlandsABSTRACT
Isatin (2,3-dioxoindole), one of the components of tribulin, which has been postulated to function as an endogenous marker of stress and anxiety, was shown to induce a dose-related attenuation of learning acquisition in an active avoidance test and inhibition of learning retention, or memory, in a step-down passive avoidance paradigm and transfer latency in an elevated plus-maze, in rats. Earlier studies have indicated that isatin functions as a 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)3 receptor agonist in its anxiogenic activity in rats and is an antagonist at mammalian atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptors. Since 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and centrally administered ANP have been shown to facilitate learning and memory, the observed memory dysfunction induced by isatin can be attributed to its receptor activity at 5-HT3 and ANP receptors. The investigation also indicates that anxiogenic agents are likely to disrupt memory functions.